Recruits create early ties via social media

He’s a Parade All-America running back who led Dekaney to a Class 5A state title in 2011, a 5-8 dynamo with sub-4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash. Oh, he’s good — you can’t run for more than 8,000 yards in high school football here and not be — but he also knows he’s good, talking about his role in Texas A&M’s future as if it’s preordained.

“Trying to make history, get the team to where it needs to be,” Williams said.

So yeah, Williams has swag, and by extension, so do the Aggies. Or so they should. Williams realizes he can’t go it alone, which is why he has enlisted the help of his fellow 2012 recruits in efforts to publicize what is apparently brewing in College Station.

How? Through social media, of course.

Williams and a few of the others in A&M’s class, which is currently ranked No. 10 by Rivals, have adopted the phrase “Agg Swagg,” even adding the expression to the end of their 140-character Twitter blasts via the hash tag #AggSwagg. During a recent photo shoot, the A&M recruits wore “Agg Swagg” shirts that were conceived by Williams’ father.

Just one question: What is “Agg Swagg”?

“People are always asking because they don’t know,” Williams said. “It’s starting to catch peoples’ eyes, though. What does it mean? Honestly, you’re not going to get it until we start playing. People won’t believe it until we start.

“But without Twitter, people never would know. We wouldn’t have anything to get it out there. Even though we mention it in every interview, people still don’t understand.”

Obviously, social media during the recruitment process can be used as a promotional tool.

The writings on the wall

Overall, the benefits are vast, although in recent weeks, some negatives have been exposed. For instance, Don Bosco Prep (N.J.) cornerback Yuri Wright was expelled recently after some racy tweets appeared on his timeline, causing several universities to yank their offers. Colorado stood by Wright, who has expressed remorse.

Nothing similar has occurred around here.

While the rules are clearly defined for coaches when it comes to phone calls (limited) and text messaging (not allowed), social media is a whole different world.

Writing on a recruit’s Facebook wall is forbidden, as is instant messaging. But during contact periods, private messages are unlimited. It’s essentially a loophole, as is sending direct messages via Twitter, and rest assured, coaches are taking advantage.

Former Owls running backs coach and recruiting coordinator Rick LaFavers, who was relieved of his duties Dec. 5, started the group as a passive means of communicating with his recruits, such as Klein Collins quarterback Tyler Stehling. Instead of direct contact, LaFavers simply wrote general messages to the masses on the group’s “wall.”

It’s here to stay

“We had two weekends for official visits,” Stehling said. “If you wanted to know if anyone was going up on either weekend, you post on that wall, and whoever’s going responded.
“It helped to get to know each other.”

Twitter has provided the same conduit, but neither method replaces actual physical interaction. Social media, though, helped kick-start the process.

Get used to it, because it’s here to stay, which is why the majority of college coaches — young and old, new and experienced — maintain some sort of presence online. They have to, or they risk losing out on what makes kids like Williams tick.

“Coach (Kevin) Sumlin, he fits right in with Agg Swagg,” Williams said. “I see him with his watch. … He knows. He’s all about it.”

jeffrey.martin@chron.com

www.twitter.com/jaymart

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